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WOFL (channel 35) is a television station in Orlando, Florida, United States, serving as the market's Fox network outlet. It is owned and operated by the network's Fox Television Stations division alongside MyNetworkTV station WRBW (channel 65). The two stations share studios on Skyline Drive in Lake Mary; WOFL's transmitter is located in Bithlo, Florida. WOFL's local news programming is also broadcast on co-owned WOGX, serving Ocala and Gainesville.

Key Information

Channel 35 in Orlando went on the air as WSWB-TV on March 31, 1974. Built by Sun World Broadcasters, WSWB-TV was Orlando's first independent station. After facing 19 months of construction delays, it suffered from financial difficulties within months of launching. This culminated in the station's equipment being seized by federal marshals on September 30, 1976. Three years of legal wrangling over a buyer followed. Omega Communications, a company led by former Taft Broadcasting executive Bud Rogers, beat out Ted Turner and the Christian Broadcasting Network and put channel 35 back on the air October 15, 1979, as WOFL. Under Omega and Meredith Corporation, which became its full owner in 1983, the station prospered as the highest-rated and, for some years, the only full-market independent station in rapidly growing Central Florida.

WOFL began airing local newscasts in March 1998, first at 10 p.m. before expanding to mornings. After Meredith traded WOFL to Fox Television Stations in 2002, the news department grew aggressively over the course of the 2000s, with additional hours of morning, early evening, and late evening newscasts.

WSWB-TV

[edit]

Interest in constructing a commercial ultra high frequency (UHF) television station in Orlando stretched as far back as 1965, when the Connecticut-based Omicron Television Corporation applied for channel 35.[2] The construction permit was awarded in 1966,[3] but it was vacant by 1970, when Sun World Broadcasters Inc. applied for channel 35.[4] It was headed by Orlando resident Earl Boyles, who had run television stations in multiple states, and featured stockholders from the Orlando area as well as the state of North Carolina.[5] The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the construction permit to Sun World on March 21, 1971, and the call sign WSWB-TV two months later.[6]

Sun World's plans to build the station were delayed 19 months. In April 1972, the company ran newspaper ads promising the station would debut that August.[7] Construction activities were snarled by a national shortage of building supplies, which delayed work on the studios on Colonial Drive east of Orlando, and difficulties with the land conditions at the tower site in Bithlo, which a station official called "mucky" and requiring compacted sand to withstand the weight of a 1,500-foot (460 m) tower. Planned airdates of March, August, and November 1973 were all missed.[8][9][10]

WSWB-TV began broadcasting on March 31, 1974. It represented an investment of $3.6 million and was a general-entertainment independent station with movies, sports, reruns, children's shows, and pre-empted network programming. It also featured a local 10:30 p.m. newscast.[11] The 10:30 news used national and international footage from Television News Inc.;[12] it lasted six months before being scrapped.[13] At the outset, WSWB-TV invested heavily in locally produced programs, which included a midday talk show, Florida Lifestyle; two children's shows, Romper Room and Uncle Hubie's Children's Playhouse; a teen dance hour, Blue Christie's Rock and Roll Sundance; and the country music program The Gene Thomley Show.[14]

Within months of signing on the air, WSWB-TV began showing signs of financial strain. In November 1974, RCA, a major equipment supplier to the startup station, sued for $2.28 million they alleged they were owed on video tape equipment, which they sought to repossess.[15] Sun World countersued, alleging that RCA had breached its contract and claiming loss of advertising sales and reputation after the RCA suit.[16] The station spent 1975 fighting for its viability. In June, Sun World agreed to sell WSWB-TV to the Martin International Corporation,[17] though the transaction was not submitted for FCC approval until December 16.[6] Meanwhile July 2, leasing company Continental Credit Corporation moved to seize $200,000 of mostly office furnishings from the studios, though the station continued to broadcast.[18] Continental pushed for the appointment of a receiver for WSWB-TV, to which Martin objected because it believed such a move would jeopardize the station's broadcast license; as a compromise, the parent of Sun World, not Sun World itself, was put into receivership.[19] Following the appointment, WSWB-TV canceled its local programs, let go of their hosts,[20][21] and focused its early evening lineup and movies.[22] In December 1975, Winter Park Federal Savings and Loan and Continental Credit—the two mortgageholders on WSWB-TV properties—moved to auction the station's facilities to satisfy creditors,[23] with the savings and loan winning its own mortgages at auction.[24]

Three years off the air

[edit]

On October 3, 1975, a federal judge ordered Sun World Broadcasters to turn over RCA's equipment to the company within 28 days. RCA later gave the station until September 28, 1976, to pay what it was owed. The action went unheralded until September 30, 1976, when U.S. Marshals arrived at the station's studios with a court order and a group of movers and engineers to remove the RCA equipment from the building. At 2:39 p.m., in the middle of The Mickey Mouse Club and with no advance warning to viewers, channel 35 left the air.[25] Viewers flooded the station's switchboard with calls after the shutdown and as they tuned in for programs throughout the day, asking what had happened. Even the youngest viewers, who watched channel 35's cartoons and children's programs, tried to help, sending letters of encouragement and in one case money from their allowances.[26]

Station officials expressed hope that a new owner could be identified and the station put back on the air. By mid-October, one of these potential buyers had bought the transmitter site: Ted Turner, who owned WTCG in Atlanta and WRET in Charlotte, North Carolina.[27] Turner successfully pushed for the appointment of a receiver for Sun World, an action seen as delaying any return to air until the station was sold.[28] The still-pending Martin International application was dismissed,[6] and instead Sun World tried to sell the station to the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). Turner rejected CBN's offer for the station's real estate; Sun World challenged Turner's actions with the FCC, believing he was attempting to purchase the bankrupt station in the same manner he bought WRET in 1970.[29] A receiver was formally appointed to protect the broadcast license, which was about to expire,[30] and collate the company's assets and claims.[31] The receiver tentatively agreed to sell the station to Turner, but his decision was subject to review by circuit court judge Frederick T. Pfeiffer.[32]

Even though Turner already owned the transmitter site, the stockholders of Sun World disagreed with the receiver's preferred bidder over the structure of the contract. The Turner bid for $1.1 million called for half to be paid at closing and the other half over 10 years, but Turner had the option to prepay the latter at a 10 percent discount. They preferred a different bid for channel 35: the Omega group, a five-man consortium headed by Lawrence H. "Bud" Rogers, a retired Taft Broadcasting executive.[33] Pfeiffer bucked the receiver and his own "first impression" favoring Turner and approved the sale of WSWB-TV to Omega for $1.2 million on April 12, 1977.[34] Turner refused to back down and promised to appeal Pfeiffer's decision.[35]

In the meantime, the studio building was auctioned. Winter Park Federal Savings and Loan and Turner had each bid, but the winner was another Orlando television station: public station WMFE-TV (channel 24), which had outgrown its existing facilities at the Mid-Florida Technical Institute and sought larger quarters in preparation to start an FM radio station.[36][37][38] Turner filed his appeal, in the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach; industry experts noted that what was at stake was the potential to run the only independent station in the rapidly growing Orlando market at a time when independent outlets were on an upturn.[39] The appeals court case, further delayed by the resignation of a judge,[40] ended in June 1978 with a ruling upholding Pfeiffer's April 1977 decision favoring Omega.[41] The ruling was unsuccessfully appealed to the Florida Supreme Court.[42]

WOFL: Omega and Meredith ownership

[edit]

Orlando's leading independent

[edit]

On June 15, 1979, the FCC approved the transfer of the channel 35 license to Omega Communications, Inc.[6] The station changed its call sign from WSWB-TV to WOFL on August 30,[6] and the new owners set to work converting a former bank on Orange Blossom Trail into channel 35's new studios. Lauding WSWB-TV's general manager in 1976, Ray Balsom, for keeping the station afloat and even profitable in the months before it closed, Rogers tapped him to be WOFL's first general manager. WOFL launched on October 15, 1979, again utilizing a typical independent station format.[43][44] The Meredith Corporation of Des Moines, Iowa, had invested in Omega Communications before WOFL went on air[43] and held a 40-percent stake as well as a buyout option that it could trigger before 1984. It acquired the remainder of Omega in a 1983 transaction valuing the station at $27.6 million—a substantial return on the $1.2 million Omega had paid to buy the facility out of receivership.[45][46] In the years after its relaunch, WOFL was the primary independent station in its market, with a market share of 8 to 9 percent. In 1982, Central Florida gained its second independent, WMOD (channel 43). Licensed to Melbourne, it lacked the corporate and programming resources and technical facility of WOFL and only had a market share of 3 percent by late 1984.[47][48] Though stations across Central Florida attempted to compete, only WOFL had a good signal and cable coverage in Orlando, while two other channels allotted to Orlando (27 and 65) were in the hearing phase.[49] In October 1986, WOFL became the Orlando-market affiliate of the new Fox network;[50] it considered leaving in 1988, when several Fox affiliates dropped the network over its weak Saturday night lineup.[51]

With its prosperity, the station expanded its facilities and attempted to expand its coverage. In 1986, Meredith completed new studios for the station along Interstate 4 in the Orlando suburb of Lake Mary, consisting of a $5 million building and $1.5 million in new equipment.[52] The larger studio facility was used not only by WOFL but other production endeavors and even other divisions of Meredith. Parts of the 1988 film Ernest Saves Christmas were filmed at channel 35,[53] and the Meredith-owned magazine Golf for Women occupied space that had been designated for a future newsroom.[54]

As early as 1983, a locally owned low-power TV station in Crystal River, W49AI, was on air, rebroadcasting WOFL to a small area in Citrus County.[55] Meredith filed in 1986 to build channel 64, licensed to Inverness, as a rebroadcaster of WOFL under the proposed call sign WIFL. The application was contested by Ocala–based independent station WBSP-TV (channel 51, later WOGX) and the FCC's own Mass Media Bureau, which noted that multiple other applicants for the channel had sought full-service stations, not repeaters.[56][57] In 1989, WOGX appealed the FCC's award of a construction permit to the full commission.[58]

WOGX was acquired by Meredith from Wabash Valley Broadcasting in 1995.[59] When the sale took effect on January 1, 1996,[60] WOFL's general manager assumed responsibility for WOGX, and the company set up data links between the two stations.[61] Master control for WOGX moved to Lake Mary; of 30 jobs in Ocala, eight to nine were eliminated, and another 11 were transferred to Lake Mary. The combination added 94,000 Gainesville-area homes to WOFL's viewing area.[60]

On January 24, 1997, Meredith announced its acquisition of First Media Television, which owned three stations—including Orlando's CBS affiliate, WCPX-TV (channel 6).[62] At the time, duopolies were not allowed; Meredith had to select a station to keep. Employees at both stations suggested that WOFL would be chosen for sale,[63] but Meredith kept WOFL and instead traded WCPX to Post-Newsweek Stations.[64]

Fox ownership

[edit]

As early as October 2001, speculation emerged of a potential trade between Meredith and the Fox Television Stations Group that would create duopolies in Orlando and Portland, Oregon.[65] Fox had acquired WRBW (channel 65), then Orlando's UPN affiliate, as part of its purchase of the Chris-Craft Industries stations in July 2001;[66][67] in Portland, Meredith owned Fox affiliate KPDX, and Fox had acquired KPTV from Chris-Craft.[68] The deal, agreed in March 2002 and completed three months later, saw WOFL and WOGX go to Fox while KPTV went to Meredith.[69][70]

News operation

[edit]

WOFL general manager Norris Reichel announced in July 1996 that the station planned to debut a "fast-paced" 10 p.m. local newscast seven nights a week in early 1997. The only local station airing news at 10 was WKCF (channel 18), which offered a WCPX-produced newscast.[71] The plans were put on hold temporarily while Meredith decided which of WCPX or WOFL to divest, but when it decided to keep channel 35, the news department plans were cleared to launch.[54] The 10 p.m. news debuted as a half-hour broadcast on March 1, 1998, targeting a younger audience in line with Fox network programming; the main news anchors were in their early 30s, and the station had a fleet of Ford Mustangs as news vehicles. The original plans also included a 6 p.m. newscast for WOGX focusing on Ocala and Gainesville news,[72][73][74] but this failed to meet ratings and demographic targets and was discontinued after nine months.[75] The prime time news expanded to a full hour in September 1999.[76]

In 2000, WOFL expanded its news operation to mornings with the launch of Good Day Orlando, originally a two-hour program running from 7 to 9 a.m. against the national network morning newscasts. The news department was expanded by 13 employees and the station's video production unit closed to make way for the new newscast.[77][78] After the Fox acquisition, this program expanded to three hours from 6 to 9 a.m. in September 2002 and was relaunched as the more news-oriented Fox 35 Morning News.[79] It had grown again to four hours, from 5 to 9 a.m., by 2005.[80]

Beginning in 2006, WOFL expanded its news operation outside of mornings and late night news. A 5 p.m. newscast debuted on March 6, 2006, originally with a format inspired by morning newscasts;[81] encouraged by a strong early performance among viewers aged 25–54, the station expanded it to weekends five months later, bringing the total news output to 34 hours weekly.[82] An expansion to 6 p.m. followed in 2007,[83] as did a newscast at 11 p.m. in 2008.[84]

In 2009, WOFL launched Good Day, a morning news and features program.[85] It combined with the existing Fox 35 Morning News to create a five-hour local block in the morning. At the same time, the station purchased and installed its own weather radar, located near Christmas.[86] An 8 p.m. newscast on WRBW was added in 2019.[87]

WOFL provides the East Coast operations for the Fox local stations' streaming news channel, LiveNow from Fox, originating the channel in the morning hours before KSAZ-TV in Phoenix takes over.[88]

Technical information

[edit]

WOFL's transmitter is located in Bithlo, Florida.[1] The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of WOFL[89]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
35.1 720p 16:9 WOFL Fox
35.2 480i Buzzr Buzzr
35.3 FOX WX Fox Weather
65.1 720p 16:9 WRBW MyNetworkTV (WRBW)
  Broadcast on behalf of another station

WOFL was the first television station in the Orlando market to broadcast its digital signal in February 2000, on channel 22.[90] The analog signal was shut down on the digital transition date of June 12, 2009.[91] WOFL continued to use channel 22 for digital broadcasts[92] until being repacked to channel 33 on January 17, 2020, as a result of the 2016 United States wireless spectrum auction.[93]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

WOFL

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from Grokipedia
WOFL, 35 (UHF digital channel 33), is a licensed to , , serving as the for the . The station is owned by , a subsidiary of , and operates as part of a duopoly with station (channel 65). WOFL maintains shared studio facilities with WRBW on in , while its transmitter is located near Bithlo, in eastern Orange County. Branded on-air as FOX 35, it provides local news, weather forecasts, sports coverage, and syndicated programming to viewers, with a focus on community stories, theme park updates, and regional events. WOFL signed on the air on August 30, 1979, initially operating as an after the original channel 35 allocation had briefly been used by predecessor WSWB-TV from to 1976. The station affiliated with the upstart as one of its charter affiliates when the network launched in 1986, shifting from general to network-aligned programming including prime-time shows, sports, and late-night content. Ownership changed hands several times in its early years before acquired full control in 1983, during which period WOFL became a top-rated independent and later Fox outlet in the market. In June 2002, obtained WOFL through a swap with Meredith, exchanging the , station and acquiring WOFL alongside Ocala-based Fox affiliate to form a stronger presence and duopoly in Orlando. The station's news operation, known as FOX 35 News, expanded significantly under Fox ownership, launching its first local newscast in 1998 and growing to include morning, evening, and weekend broadcasts produced in high definition. Notable programming includes the morning lifestyle show Good Day Orlando, investigative reports, and specialized coverage of Central Florida's tourism industry, space launches from nearby , and severe weather events. WOFL reaches approximately 1.9 million households in its primary coverage area as of the 2024-2025 television season and has earned recognition for community engagement and investigative reporting, including awards from the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists. As of 2025, it continues to serve as a key source for in one of the nation's fastest-growing media markets.

History

Origins as WSWB-TV

WSWB-TV signed on the air on March 31, 1974, as the first independent television station in , operating on UHF channel 35. The station was constructed and owned by Sun World Broadcasting, a company led by chairman and president Earl L. Boyles, which aimed to serve the growing Orlando market where VHF network affiliates dominated viewer attention. Initial studios were established in Orlando, with the first broadcast originating from a transmission tower designed to reach underserved areas beyond the primary coverage of established stations. Programming emphasized independent content tailored to local audiences, including children's shows such as Uncle Hubie's Penthouse Barnyard, family movies, syndicated series like Batman and reruns, and original local features to build . Despite these efforts, WSWB-TV faced significant early challenges due to the high costs of launching a UHF independent in a competitive market during the 1970s economic recession. Startup expenses for equipment, tower construction, and syndicated content acquisition strained Sun World Broadcasting's resources, contributing to operational difficulties from the outset.

Shutdown and three-year hiatus

WSWB-TV signed off for the final time on September 30, 1976, at 2:39 p.m., when U.S. Marshals executed a court order to seize the station's transmitter and over $1.4 million in leased broadcasting equipment from RCA Corporation due to unpaid payments that had been in dispute since shortly after the station's 1974 launch. The shutdown stemmed from the broader financial collapse of Sun World Broadcasters, the station's owner, which filed for bankruptcy in January 1976 amid the economic pressures of the 1970s recession, escalating operational costs for an independent UHF station, and insufficient advertising revenue in the growing but competitive Orlando television market. In the ensuing legal proceedings, a state court declared Sun World insolvent and appointed a receiver to oversee the of assets, including retention of the FCC permit and for channel 35 by creditors to prevent immediate forfeiture while exploring options for transfer. Efforts at rapid resale faltered, such as a January 1976 agreement to assign the to Martin Broadcasting of for $237,871, which collapsed amid ongoing financial entanglements and regulatory scrutiny, prolonging the station's dormancy. This three-year absence left a noticeable gap in local UHF independent programming for Orlando viewers, who lost access to the station's mix of syndicated shows, movies, and children's content, with channel 35 remaining silent until 1979 and forcing reliance on VHF network affiliates or cable options where available. During the hiatus, the receiver facilitated equipment auctions to settle claims, including RCA's judgments, while the unused faced deterioration from lack of maintenance, adding hurdles to any revival plans.

Relaunch under Omega Communications

Following a three-year hiatus after the shutdown of its predecessor station, Channel 35 in Orlando was revived by Omega Communications, Inc., which received FCC approval for the license transfer in June 1979. The company anticipated operations to begin by the end of the year, with hopes of launching as early as October under the tentative call sign WOFT-TV. Ultimately, the station signed on as WOFL on October 15, 1979, adopting call letters derived from "Orlando, FL" to reflect its local focus (the call sign was officially changed from WSWB-TV on August 30, 1979). As an , WOFL emphasized a family-oriented programming strategy to attract viewers and rebuild its audience in the competitive Orlando market. The schedule featured approximately five hours of daily children's programming, including cartoons, alongside syndicated comedies, classic movies from an extensive library, and action-adventure series such as and Quincy in prime-time slots. This mix of off-network sitcoms, content, and feature films aimed to differentiate WOFL from the major network affiliates while appealing to families seeking affordable, accessible entertainment without cable subscriptions. The relaunch faced initial hurdles, including financial recovery from the prior station's and competition from established networks and emerging cable options like . In 1980, acquired a minority stake in the station as part of its expansion into broadcasting.

Growth under

In 1983, , a Des Moines, Iowa-based media company with 1984 revenues of $327.2 million, acquired full ownership of WOFL by purchasing the remaining stake held by Omega Communications, solidifying its control over the station following an initial partial investment. Under Meredith's stewardship, WOFL expanded its programming offerings to strengthen its appeal as an , incorporating popular syndicated series such as and Quincy during weeknight slots from 8 to 10 p.m., complemented by an extensive movie library and approximately five hours of daily children's programming. Advertising revenue grew gradually, with WOFL's budget doubling over the first few years under Meredith as the station secured about 20% of the local market's $94 million in ad dollars by the mid-1980s. These efforts positioned WOFL as a market leader among independents, capturing about 9% of the total viewing audience in the Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne area by 1986. Meredith invested significantly in promotion, doubling WOFL's print advertising budget over the two years prior to 1986 to boost visibility and advertiser support. By the late 1980s, these efforts contributed to the station surpassing rival independents in key ratings metrics, establishing it as the dominant non-network outlet in and laying the groundwork for future expansion. Infrastructure improvements included the construction of a new transmitter tower in , which enhanced signal coverage across the region, along with an increase in broadcast power to 5 million watts to reach a broader audience.

Affiliation and ownership changes

Charter Fox affiliation

WOFL became one of the Broadcasting Company's charter affiliates when the network launched on October 9, 1986. Owned by the , the station was among the independent TV outlets that signed exclusive two-year agreements to carry all Fox programming, enabling the network to reach nearly 80% of U.S. television households and facilitating national advertising sales. The affiliation prompted key programming shifts, integrating Fox's emerging prime-time lineup—such as the late-night in October 1986 and, later, starting in December 1989—while preserving much of WOFL's independent schedule, including local movies, sports broadcasts, and syndicated fare. This hybrid approach maintained the station's local appeal amid the network's initial limited hours of original content, which expanded gradually to weekends and beyond. Strategically, the Fox partnership elevated WOFL's national profile and financial performance by providing access to network resources and advertisers, transforming it from a regional independent into a key market player. The station adopted the "Fox 35" branding to emphasize its new network identity, a moniker that solidified during the Meredith era. A notable development came with the introduction of the programming block on September 8, 1990, which aired Saturday mornings and select weekdays on WOFL, drawing younger viewers through animated series and action shows to bolster afternoon and weekend audiences.

Acquisition by Fox Television Stations

In June 2002, Meredith Corporation traded ownership of WOFL (channel 35) and its semi-satellite WOGX (channel 51) to Fox Television Stations, a division of News Corporation, in exchange for KPTV (channel 12), the UPN affiliate in Portland, Oregon. The transaction, announced in March and completed on June 17, 2002, aligned with the Federal Communications Commission's 1999 relaxation of local television duopoly rules, which permitted common ownership of multiple stations in larger markets under specific conditions. Following the acquisition, WOFL was fully integrated into the group, enabling access to centralized national resources for programming, marketing, and operational support. This shift facilitated , including enhanced sales efficiency and bolstered production capabilities, without immediate disruptions to viewers or confirmed staff reductions. The station's general manager at the time, Mark Higgins, transitioned to a role at in Phoenix on the same date. Under Fox ownership, WOFL's branding evolved to prominently feature "Fox 35 Orlando," incorporating standardized graphics, promotional strategies, and on-air elements consistent with other owned-and-operated stations. This emphasized the station's alignment with the national network, supporting a unified identity across ' portfolio. The deal represented a key component of ' broader expansion efforts in the early 2000s, targeting top-20 markets like Orlando to strengthen its portfolio of 42 stations across 28 markets and capitalize on synergies from consolidated ownership.

Duopoly with WRBW

In 2001, Fox Television Stations acquired (channel 65), an existing UPN affiliate in Orlando, as part of its $5.4 billion purchase of and its subsidiaries, including United Television, which owned the station. This acquisition positioned to expand its presence in the Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne market. The 2002 trade with , enabled by the FCC's 1999 relaxation of local television duopoly rules, saw exchange its , station for WOFL (channel 35), formally establishing the WOFL-WRBW duopoly. The two stations consolidated their facilities at a shared studio complex on in , facilitating integrated management and resource allocation. The duopoly structure generated operational synergies through combined , and news production teams, reducing overhead while enhancing efficiency in advertising sales and technical support. , which had served as a UPN affiliate, transitioned to upon the network's launch in September 2006, aligning with Fox's strategy to repurpose its secondary outlets for the new syndication service after UPN's dissolution. This pairing allowed for streamlined content distribution, with WOFL's programming occasionally or extended to , supporting collaborative production efforts. In the Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne designated market area, the duopoly improved coverage across Central Florida's diverse geography, from urban Orlando to coastal Daytona Beach, by leveraging unified promotional strategies and cross-channel advertising opportunities that increased viewer reach and advertiser value. These efforts contributed to stronger overall market performance, including elevated ratings through integrated programming and marketing that capitalized on the stations' complementary affiliations. In , following The Walt Disney Company's acquisition of , the stations became part of the newly formed . As of 2025, the WOFL-WRBW duopoly remains intact under 's ownership, with no announced plans for separation, continuing to operate as one of Fox's 11 television duopolies nationwide.

News operation

Launch and early development

WOFL launched its inaugural local newscast, titled Fox 35 News at Ten, on March 1, 1998, under the ownership of . This 10 p.m. program marked the station's entry into programming, following its transition from an without prior operations. The early format consisted of a 30-minute broadcast airing seven nights a week, including dedicated segments for weather, sports, and investigative reporting. The 10 p.m. newscast was expanded to a full hour in September 1999. A single anchor led each edition, supported by a news team of 30 members who also handled reporting, camera work, and production, with reporters utilizing sporty Ford Mustangs for field coverage. The set design incorporated modern elements like girders and pillars to appeal to a younger audience in the 18-49 demographic. In its initial phase, the newscast quickly gained traction; by the November 1998 sweeps period, it ranked second in household ratings among 10 p.m. programs, trailing only , while leading in viewership among adults 18-49. However, it encountered significant challenges in the competitive Orlando market, vying against established 10 p.m. newscasts on (1.6 rating) and (4.8 rating), as well as higher-rated 11 p.m. network-affiliated programs averaging 8.9 to 11.3 ratings. The program aimed for a target of 4.0 household rating, leveraging the strong lead-in from prime-time programming.

Expansion and current format

Following the initial launch of its news operation in 1998, WOFL significantly expanded its local programming under Fox Television Stations ownership, beginning with the introduction of the "Good Day Orlando" morning show in September 2000. This two-hour weekday newscast aired from 7 to 9 a.m., providing a mix of news, weather, traffic, and lifestyle segments tailored to Central Florida viewers. By September 2002, the program extended by an additional hour to run from 6 to 9 a.m., enhancing its focus on early-morning commuters in the Orlando metropolitan area with live reports and interactive features. Further growth in the mid-2000s solidified WOFL's evening news presence, with the addition of a 5 p.m. newscast in March 2006, followed by a 6 p.m. newscast in August 2007, and an 11 p.m. broadcast launching on January 7, 2009. These expansions, branded under the "FOX 35 News" umbrella, emphasized fast-paced reporting on local , , and community issues, often integrating national feeds for broader context. By , the station's news lineup spanned over 20 hours weekly, positioning it as a key player in Orlando's competitive media landscape. As of 2025, WOFL's news operation delivers content across multiple platforms, including over-the-air broadcasts, the FOX 35 Orlando app, and streaming services like FOX LOCAL and , enabling real-time access to , live traffic updates, and severe weather alerts for the Orlando metro region. The station serves as the East Coast hub for LiveNOW from , a national streaming service launched in , handling morning production and distribution of live events to support Fox affiliates nationwide. With a exceeding 50 staff members, including anchors, reporters, and meteorologists, WOFL employs advanced tools such as shared aerial traffic helicopters via regional partnerships and proprietary digital systems for hyper-local . The operation has earned recognition for its coverage, including Orlando Weekly awards in 2025 for Best Local TV News Reporter, Best Local TV News Anchor, and Best Local TV Morning Show.

Technical information

Transmitter and signal coverage

WOFL's transmitter facilities are situated in unincorporated , at coordinates 28°36′14″N 81°05′10″W, approximately 15 miles east of . This location has served as the station's primary broadcast site since 1979. The transmitter tower stands at 439 meters (1,440 feet) above ground level, with an antenna (HAAT) of 447 meters (1,467 feet). For its on RF channel 33, WOFL operates at an (ERP) of 1,000 kilowatts horizontally and 874 kilowatts vertically, utilizing a TFU-30ETT/VP-R O6 antenna with 1 degree of electrical beam tilt. Prior to the digital transition, the station broadcast its on UHF channel 35 with a (DA) at 2,570 kilowatts and a of approximately 451 meters (1,480 feet) above ground level. WOFL's signal provides robust over-the-air coverage throughout , encompassing the Orlando–Daytona Beach–Melbourne designated market area (DMA) and extending to nearby communities such as Lakeland. The primary digital contour reaches a 69-mile radius, serving an estimated population of 3.97 million and approximately 1.9 million television households as of the 2024–2025 season. This coverage supports reliable reception in urban centers like Orlando and Daytona Beach, as well as suburban and rural areas within Orange, , Volusia, and Polk counties.

Digital transition and subchannels

WOFL ceased analog transmissions on June 12, 2009, aligning with the nationwide full-power mandated by the , and began broadcasting its full-power digital signal on 35 mapped to physical RF channel 22 via PSIP to preserve its legacy channel identity. In response to the 2016-2017 broadcast spectrum incentive auction and , WOFL shifted its digital operations from RF channel 22 to RF channel 33 on January 17, 2020, optimizing spectrum usage and enabling more efficient across the UHF band. The station's digital multiplex currently comprises three subchannels: 35.1, delivering primary network programming in high definition; 35.2, airing , a FremantleMedia-owned network dedicated to classic game shows, which launched nationally on owned-and-operated stations including WOFL on June 1, 2015; and 35.3, providing the 24/7 national service, which debuted in October 2021 and expanded to subchannels on select stations in 2022. WOFL has participated in (NextGen TV) deployments since July 2021 as part of a of eight Orlando-area stations, offering enhanced video quality, audio, and interactive features while maintaining compatibility with legacy ATSC 1.0 receivers; ongoing testing and optimizations continue as of 2025 to support broader adoption.

References

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  2. https://www.mapquest.com/us/florida/wofl-fox-35-278175649
  3. https://www.fox35orlando.com/
  4. https://rogersimmons.com/wofl-tv-35/
  5. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2002/03/23/news-corp-adds-2nd-station-in-orlando-fox-channel-35/
  6. https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/23/business/company-news-news-corporation-agrees-to-trade-television-station.html
  7. https://nationalmediaspots.com/DMA-Ranks.pdf
  8. http://floridanewsawards.org/2024-professional-winners
  9. https://www.linkedin.com/company/fox-35-orlando-wofl-tv
  10. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/01/17/crackling-static-gives-birth-to-radio-in-orange/
  11. https://jaxbroadcasters.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Florida_Brodcast_Database_TV-STATIONS-1.pdf
  12. https://floridahistoryblog.com/eyesore-on-i-4-the-story-behind-the-majesty-building/
  13. https://www.newspapers.com/article/24284672/wswbchannel_35_goes_off_the_air/
  14. https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/5914926cadd7b049345980ca
  15. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53528645/
  16. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1986/02/17/independent-stations-joust-for-position-new-programming-ad-budget-provide-boost-for-channel-43/
  17. https://scripophily.net/meredith-corporation/
  18. https://www.fybush.com/site-20130301/
  19. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-08-04-fi-1153-story.html
  20. https://www.encyclopedia.com/economics/economics-magazines/fox-broadcasting-co
  21. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/04/arts/new-fox-network-signs-up-79-tv-stations-across-us.html
  22. https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/fox-kids-shows-saturday-morning-cartoons-kids-wb/
  23. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2002/06/12/swap-gives-channel-35-to-news-corp-2/
  24. https://tvstations.fandom.com/wiki/WOFL
  25. https://www.nexttv.com/news/changing-hands-91973
  26. https://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/News_Releases/2001/nrmm0108.html
  27. https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/25/business/media/fcc-approves-fox-takeover-of-10-chriscraft-tv-stations.html
  28. https://www.fox35orlando.com/fox35plus
  29. https://tvnewscheck.com/article/tag/wrbw-orlando/
  30. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2006/02/22/fox-to-launch-my-network-tv-20643/20060222mynetworktv01/
  31. https://media.investor.foxcorporation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/21160547/Fox-2024-10K.pdf
  32. https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/fox-names-justin-fox-to-lead-sales-in-florida-region/
  33. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1998/03/02/wofl-jazzes-up-10-oclock-news-to-lure-young-fox-watchers/
  34. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1999/02/25/wofl-hunts-for-new-chief/
  35. https://rogersimmons.com/2006/02/24/assistant-nd-leaving-wofl/
  36. https://rogersimmons.com/2008/07/06/wofl-to-launch-11-p-m-newscast/
  37. https://www.nexttv.com/features/local-news-sweltering-orlando-heats-up
  38. https://forums.radioreference.com/threads/central-florida-news-helicopters-remotes.384821/
  39. https://www.fox35orlando.com/central-florida-radar
  40. https://www.facebook.com/DavidMartinFOX35/posts/wow-im-truly-honored-to-be-named-best-local-tv-news-reporter-in-the-orlando-week/1309799530515361/
  41. https://www.rabbitears.info/tvq.php?request=items&facid=41225
  42. https://ustvdb.com/markets/orlando-daytona-beach-melbourne/
  43. https://www.fcc.gov/general/digital-television
  44. https://deadline.com/2015/01/fox-tv-stations-games-shows-buzzr-tv-fremantlemedia-north-america-debmar-mercury-1201353525/
  45. https://www.newscaststudio.com/2022/02/24/fox-weather-adding-orlando-bureau-at-wofl/
  46. https://www.nexttv.com/news/orlando-stations-broadcasting-using-new-atsc-30-signal
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